More than 80 Richmond school meals workers, whose plight was highlighted by Ed Miliband in his maiden speech as Leader to Labour Party conference, have won their bid for sick pay, a wage boost and better health and safety, their union UNISON said today.
UNISON, as a part of its 3 Companies Project, has waged a year-long battle for better treatment for the women from the private company they work for – Sodexo.
As well as winning formal union recognition**, the first UK schools contract where this has happened, the dinner ladies will get sick pay and a 2% salary boost backdated to September 2010. They will also get at least a 1% pay increase in September 2011. Health and safety will be improved, and Sodexo has pledged to replace essential kitchen equipment much quicker.
Dave Prentis, UNISON General Secretary, said:
“This is a real victory for Richmond’s school meals workers – who show us all what can be achieved through solidarity and determination. Day in, day out, they work hard to make sure Richmond’s kids get a good lunch, and they deserve to be fairly treated. UNISON and the local Labour Party have backed these workers to the hilt – but the work does not end here. We will continue to campaign for all private contractors to give their staff better treatment on basic employment terms.”
Ed Miliband, Labour party leader, said:
“I congratulate these dinner ladies on winning fairer conditions at work. It shows what can be achieved by working together.”
In his speech to conference, Ed said: “I remember during this campaign I met some school dinner ladies. They had to buy their own uniforms; their shift patterns were being changed at a moment’s notice. They were not interested in going on strike, they loved the kids they served, and wanted to serve their schools. But they wanted someone to help them get basic standards of decency and fairness.”
School meals worker, and UNISON leader, Julia Morris, said:
“It means so much to me, and to the people I work with, to know that if we get ill, we can take some time off work. I am a single mother of three, so getting a pay boost now when the cost of living is through the roof will really help.
“Through working together with my colleagues Jackie, Angela and Marie, we’ve won the right to better treatment from our employers. Our managers listened to our concerns and took them seriously – during the negotiations we were treated with respect and dignity.
“Our campaign got a huge boost from Ed Miliband, and seeing him mention our campaign in his speech to conference was unbelievable. This has helped me to believe that the so-called little people do have a voice.”
Mark Walker, Twickenham Labour Party Chairman, who backed the campaign, said:
“A strong partnership between our local Labour Party and the UNISON branch proved invaluable to the cause. We took great pride in supporting the campaign and working together with the school meals workers